Information sheet for students who have defended their dissertation proposal.
Prepared by the Graduate Office (202 Psychology Building)
Bob Caldwell, Associate Chair (bob@msu.edu)
Julie Detwiler, Graduate Secretary (detwiler@msu.edu)
Phone: 353-5258
Last updated, March 25, 2005
Congratulations on successfully defending your dissertation proposal. You are in the home stretch
of your graduate training. The Graduate Office has put this information sheet together to make
sure this final stretch goes as smoothly as possible.
The end of your graduate career is accompanied by a flurry of paperwork. All the necessary forms
are available to you on the departmental web page
(http://psychology.msu.edu/Academic/forms.html).
As a first step, I suggest that you take another look at the relevant sections of the Graduate Program
Handbook (http://psychology.msu.edu/GradInfo/2001Handbook.htm). There is a great deal of
helpful information there. The Graduate School also holds workshops periodically to cover topics
such as: Formatting your dissertation, submission packet material (e.g., Bookplate, Dissertation
Agreement Form, etc.), degree requirements and completion of the degree, registration
requirements, defending and submitting your dissertation, and getting the diploma. You should
contact plan to attend one of these workshops.
When you finish your dissertation there are several things you should pay attention to. Our
College must have your dissertation three weeks before the oral defense meeting is scheduled.
They will appoint a Dean’s representative to serve on your committee. Both of these actions
require a form from our web site (The Ph.D. Notification of Final Oral Exam Form and The
Appointment of a Dean's Representative to the Guidance Committee Form).
Once you have successfully defended your dissertation, your committee completes The Ph.D.
Record of Dissertation and Oral Examination Form (which you should bring with you to the
defense). Once any revisions have been completed and you have a final copy of the dissertation,
the Graduate School (Linton Hall) gets one UNBOUND copy of your dissertation and our
Graduate Office (202 Psychology Building) gets one BOUND copy. You should also apply for
graduation when you register for your final semester.
Clinical students have one additional form, The Completion of Internship Form that must be filed
before they are eligible for graduation.
Lastly, we need to know where you are going after you leave MSU. Upon graduation, you become
part of our distinguished Alumni family. You must submit The Ph.D. Placement Report before
you go on to post-doctoral employment.
Please feel free to contact us or stop by the Graduate Office if you have any questions about these
forms and procedures. Good luck with this final stretch!